Guide to the G. T. Beauregard letter, 1857
Redwood Library and Athenaeum
50 Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: (401) 847-0292
Fax: (401) 841-5680
email: redwood@redwoodlibrary.org
Published in 2013
Collection Overview
| Title: | G. T. Beauregard letter |
| Date range: | 1857 |
| Creator: | Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893 |
| Extent: | 0.01 linear feet (1 folder) |
| Abstract: | This collection consists of one letter written by G. T. Beauregard (1818-1893), a United States Army engineer officer and later Confederate Army general, to Dr. Mercer regarding the British invasion on Washington, D.C during the War of 1812. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | Redwood Library and Athenaeum |
| Collection number: | RLC.Ms.501 |
Scope & content
This collection consists of one letter written by G. T. Beauregard in New Orleans, Louisiana, to a Dr. Mercer on April 14, 1857. This letter accompanied the return of Dr. Mercer’s copy of the book, History of the invasion and capture of Washington, and the events which preceded and followed by John S. Williams. Beauregard writes of his opinions on the book and the military strategy used in the invasion of Washington, D.C. in August 1814, which was a part of the War of 1812 (1812-1815).Access Points
Subject Topics- Washington (D.C.)--History--Capture by the British, 1814
- United States--History--War of 1812--Campaigns
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in chronological order.
Biographical note
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard (1818-1893), commonly referred to as G. T. Beauregard, was born on May 28, 1838, in Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Beauregard attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and graduated second in his class in 1838. He served in the Mexican War (1846-1848) as an engineer officer on the staff of General Winfield Scott (1786-1866). After the war, Beauregard was placed in charge of the Mississippi and Lake Defenses of Louisiana in 1848, a position he held until 1860. On January 23, 1861, he was appointed the superintendent of the United States Military Academy, but decided to relinquish his post and resign his commission from the United States Army after Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 26. In February 1861, Beauregard accepted a new commission as brigadier general for the Confederate Army. He was crucial in forcing the surrender of Fort Sumter on April 13, 1861, which began the American Civil War (1861-1865). Beauregard was named a full general in the Confederate Army in July 1861 and kept that position through the end of the war. After the Civil War, Beauregard returned to New Orleans where he engaged in politics and served as president of two railroad companies. G. T. Beauregard died on February 20, 1893.Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | Access is open to members and researchers at the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. |
| Use of the materials: | This collection is owned by the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Special Collections Librarian of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. |
| Preferred citation: | G. T. Beauregard letter, RLC.Ms.501, Redwood Library and Athenaeum. |
| Contact information: | Redwood Library and Athenaeum 50 Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI 02840 Tel: (401) 847-0292 Fax: (401) 841-5680 email: redwood@redwoodlibrary.org |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | Acquisition information is unknown. |
| Processing information: | This collection was previously processed by Leah Podolsky in 2009 and Aimee Saunders in 2010. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Delmage. |
| Encoding: | Finding aid encoded by Elizabeth Delmage 2013 September 04 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
| Sponsor: | Funding for processing and cataloging this collection was provided by the van Beuren Charitable Foundation. |
Additional Information
| Bibliography: |
Inventory
| Manuscripts Box 1 | Letter to Dr. Mercer |
1857 Apr 14 |